Queen Bitch of the Callowwood Pack (Siren Publishing Classic) (39 page)

“Gary Howler, for his historical knowledge of the pack and his medical skills in the field.”

Shock rippled through the crowd. Gary’s advanced age made his inclusion a surprise. Julianna guessed the Lunas of the past generally chose women to be in their cadres, but Julianna valued Gary’s perspective and his ability to stay calm in stressful situations.

He paused next to Woody with a half-smile on his face and swept his body into an elaborate bow from bygone times. Then he spun to face the pack, and Julianna had to hide a grin.
Show-off!

Julianna gestured to them and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, the cadre of the future Luna.”

Richard took center stage once more and addressed the pack as Jeff returned to stand behind Julianna. She savored his burning touch and resisted the urge to rub her back against his hard chest.

“In accordance with our traditions,” Richard shouted over the applause, “the Successor and Luna will take the leadership when they have whelped their first child. When that occurs, I will step down as Alpha, and Jefferson Lightfoot will take up the reins of leadership. To the future Alpha and Luna!”

“To the future Alpha and Luna!” the crowd thundered, and howls once more echoed under the tents. Julianna grinned when Jeff squeezed her with his arms, laying a soft kiss to the back of her neck.

“I have to talk to my cadre, Jeff,” she whispered through the rising lust.

“That’s fine. But if those males touch you, I’m going to kick their asses.”

“Aw, come on. Just one hug? I promise it’ll be short.”

Jeff’s jaw bunched, and his eyes narrowed as his gaze fixed on Gary and Woody.

“Just. One. Hug.”

She winked and stepped off the dais to join her cadre. Tawny hugged her immediately.

“I knew you could do it!” she whispered.

Julianna laughed. “Thanks for believing in me.”

Tawny snorted but stepped back to let the others close. Marybeth and Jennilynn shared their hug, but Julianna didn’t mind. Gratitude for the love and loyalty she sensed from both of them filled her heart. They each winked the opposite eye at her and said together, “See you back at the table.”

Then she turned to Gary and Woody. “I’m into hugs, gentlemen, but this is the only time I’ll be able to offer you one.”

Gary stepped into her embrace and squeezed her gently. “You’re magnificent, Mistress Julianna, and I’m very pleased to have you as my Luna. It’s an honor to be in your cadre, and I will serve you to the best of my ability.”

“Thank you, Gary.” She smiled as he stepped back. “I’m grateful you agreed.”

He gave her a horrified expression. “Turn down a chance to serve the prettiest female in town? Hell no.” He answered her grin.

Julianna laughed as she turned to Woody, and he hugged her like a brother.

“Thank you, Ms. Julianna,” he whispered. “I don’t know what more I can say. It’s an honor to serve you.”

“I liked you the minute I met you, Woody,” she whispered back. “You have a strength that most of the others don’t see, and I wanted you in my cadre because I knew you’d always have my back.” She pushed him to arm’s length and smiled at him. “This elevates you from omega rank, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, it does.” Triumph filled his smile. “You made me beta tonight, and I can’t thank you enough for that.” His smile melted in to solemnity. “And I
will
always have your back.”

“That’s what I need.”

He nodded and retreated to join Gary. The two males walked away together, and she admired them in their tuxes, amazed she’d never noticed how handsome they were. They’d give the ladies of the pack a show tonight.

She grinned and shook her head. They might be handsome, but no one outshone Jeff Lightfoot. She swung her gaze around the room and found her Mate advancing on her with an intense expression.

Julianna’s pulse quickened, and goose bumps rose on her skin with each menacing step he took. An excited whimper burned in her throat.
Goddess above, how can he be that beautiful?

Jeff inhaled deeply through his nose when he stopped beside her, scenting her arousal. He settled his hands on her hips and drew her close to his body, rubbing his own arousal against her belly with a subtle motion of his hips. She sucked in a startled breath as liquid flooded between her legs.

“Those males are lucky I know you’re mine.” He growled against her ear. “If they touch you again, I’ll tear out their throats.”

Julianna shivered at the possessive fury in his voice. “They know it. No one will touch me but you. I promise.”

“Good.” He nuzzled her ear, nipping the skin below the lobe. “Holy Mother, I’m dying for you. The last three days have been hell on me. Unfortunately, we have to stay here, entertaining the pack and socializing until after dinner.”

He raised his head to fiercely stare into her eyes. “But as soon as our duty is done, I’m paying you back for that little stunt you pulled two days ago.”

“I thought you paid me back in the shower.” She hissed as he licked her throat below her earring, and he chuckled darkly.

“Not nearly enough, my dear Luna.”

He jerked her against his chest and bent his head to place a painfully soft kiss on her aching lips. The force of his desire burning in the tender touch stole her breath. He pulled back and clenched his jaw, releasing her reluctantly.

“Now, let’s go eat, and I’ll let you sit with your cadre, but after the meal, you’ll stay by my side as my Luna and my Mate.”

She smiled up at him wickedly. “And if I refuse your demands, my Alpha?”

He growled at her under his breath, but she felt it all the way down to her pussy. “Then I’ll spank your ass and torture you until you’re screaming with pleasure, minx.”

Julianna laughed huskily, and Jeff grinned as he took her arm, leading her to the front of the buffet line, just behind his father. He glanced at her while she loaded her plate with food as if he thought she might have disappeared when he looked away. She grinned and winked at him as she sauntered away, wiggling her hips. She heard him catch his breath, and an ecstatic laugh almost broke free, but she squashed it.

Julianna knew she should begin, but she still felt strange eating before the others joined her. Her mother would be appalled at her rudeness. She unconsciously shook her head. She’d have to get over her human tendencies.

Julianna ate, but she barely tasted the food. The knowledge that she’d be in Jeff’s bed that night sent butterflies dancing in her gut. Her awareness centered on the male sitting with his own cadre a few tables away. How would she make it through dinner?

At last her table filled up with her cadre, and she thanked God for the company to distract her. Despite the conversation, she couldn’t stop sneaking glances over to the table where Jeff sat with Zach and Kyle. Tawny followed her gaze, and the hundredth time Julianna turned her head, Jeff’s sister elbowed her.

“It’ll be over soon, I promise,” she whispered.

“What will?”

“Dinner.” Tawny smirked. “None of us will keep you longer than necessary. We all know how long you’ve been waiting to be together.”

Julianna huffed a sigh, blushing. “Is it that obvious?”

“Uh, yeah.” Tawny snorted. “We could scent both of you when you stood close to each other.”

“Sorry. We tried not to touch each other, but no one said we had to stop feeling arousal. At least we no longer have to pretend we’re only mildly interested.”

“Yeah, lucky you.” Tawny’s gaze returned to where Zach chatted with Kyle.

Julianna took a breath to say something, but her thoughts splintered when Jeff rested his hands on her shoulders. Excitement sizzled through her body as she stared up at him. He held his hand out to her, and she took it, watching in a daze as he pulled it to his lips and kissed her knuckles. Delicious pleasure shot straight to her crotch, and she gave him a low moan.
How does he stay so cool?

Her gaze dropped to the front of his slacks and hid a smile. He wasn’t nearly as unaffected as his expression appeared.

“Shall we make our rounds?” he asked in a hoarse voice as he drew her to her feet.

“Oh, yes, let’s do that.” Julianna glanced at her dinner companions. “Please excuse me.”

Tawny and the others nodded with smug smiles wreathing their faces. Julianna didn’t care. Jeff smelled too good, and he radiated warmth and strength. She savored the sexual tension, but she couldn’t tell if it belonged to him or her. She felt like she’d explode from the need burning through her, but he continued to be the perfect gentleman as they made the rounds through the pack.

The eyes of the other candidates’ families echoed disappointment, but they remained gracious in defeat. Julianna caught Brenda watching her with narrowed eyes, but the threat had no teeth. Brenda conducted herself as a high ranking alpha female for all she’d had the little tantrum on the dais, and she responded courteously when they spoke with her.

“I never got the chance to thank you for coming to my father’s respects party.” Julianna inclined her head to the blonde. “It was kind when you didn’t know me at all.”

“I didn’t go for you,” Brenda said without emotion. “I went to pay respects to the future Alpha.”

Julianna nodded. “I assumed as much. Thank you anyway. I hope you find your Mate, Ms. Solaris, and I hope he’s as Alpha as Mr. Lightfoot.”

Brenda stared at her for a long time, the icy blue eyes calculating and evaluating Julianna’s statement for hidden meanings. Julianna broadcast only honesty, and Brenda cocked her head a little. The woman smelled like surprise and uncertainty.

“Thank you, Luna. I appreciate that.”

“You’re welcome. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

Julianna beamed and turned with Jeff to move on to another table of guests, her thoughts racing.
Brenda isn’t the one who set me up
. The blonde might have been disappointed at Jeff’s choice, but her scent hadn’t been choked with seething fury or malice. She’d been a formidable opponent, but she didn’t smell like an enemy. Julianna was more certain than ever.

When they approached Cameron’s family, the Winthrops broadcasted cold, forbidding formality. Julianna eyed Cameron for any sign of maliciousness, but the younger female only exuded disappointment and responded graciously to the conversation.

Maybe I was jumping at shadows. But I was so sure she’d set Brenda and me up.
Relief followed Julianna’s departure from the Winthrops.

Julianna hardly remembered what she said to everyone. She smiled and thanked people for their congratulations, but her awareness centered on her Mate and the feeling of his hand on her body. She did notice that Eloise Farkas sat alone with her parents while Tommy Scatterstone conversed with a group of young males on the far side of the garden. It struck her as odd, especially after she’d attended Eloise’s bridal shower.

“Did you notice that Eloise Farkas sat with her parents tonight?” They’d finished speaking with a group of betas at the table closest to the doors of the house.

“Yes, she came in with them.” Jeff buried his nose in her hair. “Holy Goddess, you smell wonderful.”

“Isn’t she engaged to Woody’s brother, Tommy?”

“She was.”

“Was? What happened?”

“Don’t know, and right now, I don’t care.”

Jeff pulled her into the house faster than propriety demanded, but Julianna laughed with elation. Her heartbeat sped up when she found herself alone with her Mate. He stopped her at the staircase and looked around for observers. When he saw no one, he grabbed her hand and bolted up the stairs, pulling her along with him.

Mark of the Wolf

“Now it’s my turn, my lovely Lupine.”

Julianna spun to face Jeff as he kicked the bedroom door closed and reached up to loosen his bow tie with a quick jerk. He branded her with a look of hungry determination as he toed off his shoes. Nothing would hold him back from what he wanted now, not even mating in his father’s house.

A frisson of excitement shot up Julianna’s back, and she gave him a challenging grin. “Bring it on, wolf-boy!”

“Oh, I’m so much more than a boy.” He growled as he unhooked his cummerbund and dropped it to the floor. He stalked toward her while he shrugged out of his jacket and tossed it to the bureau. Then he slid behind her, dropping a deceptively gentle kiss on her neck. “And tonight, you’ll learn just how much more I am.”

He pulled on one end of her gauzy scarf, and it slid off her shoulders with a sensual hiss. Jeff licked the back of her neck and placed another small kiss at her nape. Julianna shivered a little as his hands slid down her arms, pulling the wide straps of her dress with them. The stretchy material glided down off her breasts, exposing them to his hands as he released the straps.

He growled in appreciation. “No bra.”

“You think I’d wear a bra in this dress?”

“I’m not thinking right now. I’m enjoying.” His fingers gently plucked at her nipples. She moaned as sensation zinged straight through her, pinging her brain and pooling between her legs.

“Holy Mother, you smell good!”